Turntable



March 1929- E. R. WOODRUFF ET AL 1,703,978

TURNTABLE Filed March 1926 HE Sheets-Sheet 1 In vezzzfons March 1929- E. R. WOODRUFF ET AL 1,703,978

TURNTABLE Filed March 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l h 0 l1 I o 1' lo I l H. 0 He 'MIl/l/A 4. VIII/lI/l/A Mmh 5, 1929 E. R. WOODRUFF ET m. 1,703,978

TURNTABLE Filed March 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 1929- E. R. WYOODRUFF ET AL 1,703,973

March 5, 1929.

E, R. WOODRUFF ET AL TURNTABLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 1926 ml m mw W Mi m mw i .Mw M. l ml W H March 5, 1929.

E. R. wooDRuFF ET AL 1,703,978

TURNTABLE Filed March 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 6L .1320 anions.

% M Z% 1 M M.

Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

uNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE non woonncrr, or CLEVELAND, AND VERNON KINGSBURY norrnnn, or

nAsr CLEVELAND, on'ro. r A

TURNTABLE.

Application filed March 3, 1926. Serial No. 91,891.

This invention relates to turntables for use on railways for reversing locomotives and other rolling stock or for transferring the same from one track to another.

The turntable of the present invention is of the type in which traveling supports are provided at the opposite ends of the table and at points intermediate the ends and center of the table, the traveling supports being preferably trucks which travel upon concentric circular tracks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide av turntable of flexible construction which is capable of conforming to irregularities in the supporting tracks so that each sup porting truck will, at all times, bear the load imposed upon the portion of the turntable to which it is attached.

A. further object is to provide a turntable which is rigid as regards lateral distortion in a horizontal plane but which is flexible in a,

vertical direction about axes extending transversely and longitudinally thereof so th at the turntable can accommodate itself to differences in level between inner and outer supporting rails and to differences in level between the portions of the same rail.

. A further object is to provide a central pivot for the turntable which will hold the table against radial. movements and maintain the trucks in alignment with the circular tracks upon which they run but, which will not interfere with the vertical rocking movements necessary to permit the table to conform to the supporting tracks.

A further obiect to provide supporting trucks soconnected to the turntable that they are maintained in alignment with the tracks upon which they travel and are capable of rocking with respect to the part of the turntable to which they are attached so that the trout and rear wheels are both maintained in M 'lllOllll with the track in passing over (lepr ssions or elm'aliions in the track.

it further objectis'to provide a flexible turn liabloin which the load is supported e.n

tirely upon trucks at the endsand internie (hate the ends of the table and in which the trucks can be removed without jacking up the table.

A further object is to provide one or more tractor nu an ent or ends of the turntable and to travel upon a circular tracliway beneath the end Dfli the tahle.

adapted to be flexibly coupled to a A further object is to provide a tractor which is propelled by means of a pinion en gaging a stationary circular rack and which is. provided with means for maintaining the pinion in engagement with the rack, the rack engaging means permitting a tractor to have rocking movements with respect to therack.

A further object is to provide a tractor having a pinion engaging a rack and additional rack engagingmeans for maintaining the pinion in engagement with the rack, the said engaging means beingadjustable to permit the tractorto cooperate with racks of different diameters.

W'Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the turntable as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims together with such variati ns and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings; forming a part of this specification, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a'iragmentary top plan view of the turntable, a portion of the track carrying the platform of the turntable being broken away to show the girders and supporting trucks; i p

Fig. Q'is a diagrammatic side elevation of the turntable in which the trucks havebeen omitted to more clearly show the connections between the aligned girders; r v i Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view showing th joint between girders of adjacent spans and the supporting truck beneath the joint;

" 4 is a side elevation of one ofthe support] ng trucks;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sect-ion showing the elevation of one of the central pivot of the turntable;

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan view showing the fixed socket for the centralpivot and the guy rods by which the socket is held in place;

Fig. it is a vertical. section showing the Lil pivot. shaft. carried by the turntable and the connect ion between the pivot shaft and ball;

Fig. is a fragmentary plan view showing the tractor unit coupled to one end of the turntable, the super-structure of the tractor being omitted to show the track engaging wheels and driving members;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal vertical section through the tractor showing the propelling motor and the driving connections from the motor to the driving pinion;

Fig". 17 is a vertical section on line 171'lof Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section taken on line l.8-'18 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a. vertical section taken on line l9-19 of Fig. 17;

F is a fragmentary plan view showing; a modified form of tractor, the superstructure carrying the driving motor being omitted to more clearly show the frame of the tractor and. the driving members;

Fig. 21 is a section on the line 21-21 of Fig. 20 showing the rack engaging pinion and the holding roller;

22. is a fragn'ientary top plan view showing; the adjustable supporting shaft for the guide roller; and

Fig. 23 is a section on line 23-23 of Fig. 22.

Referring to the accompanying drawings. the turntable of the present invention is mounted in shallow pit 1 provided with suitable masonry supports which carry the weight of the turntable. lVithin the pit 1 there is an outer circular track -2 and within the outer track, there is an inner circular track 3 concentric with the outer track. The tracks 2 and 3 are each formed by a single circle rail, two such tracks being shown. At the center of the pit 1. there is a suitable support 4: forthe pivot of the turntable. At the center of the turntable, there is mounted the center span 5 which has longitudinal girders 6 at the opposite sides thereof. which terminate at points directly over the inner supporting track 3. Outer spans 7 are flexibly connected to the opposite ends of the center span 5, the spans 7 having: side girders S joined to the side girders 6 of the center span. Supporting trucks 9 are provided heneath the joints between connected girders and beneath the outer ends of the girders of the outermost spans. The joints between the connected spans of the turntable permit relative movement between spans in a vertical direction so that the supporting trucks. on the inner circle rail. are maintained in engagement with the rail even though portions of the rail should be above or below the level of the outer rails 2. The turntable preferably has an odd number of spans flexibly connected and supported by trucks beneath all of the joints between the spans the center span being centrally pivoted and having its ends supported upon trucks traveling. upon the inner circle rail and the outer spans being also supported at their opposite ends upon trucks traveling upon circle rails. T he flexible joints between spans cause the load imposed upon any span to be carried by the trucks beneath the opposite ends thereof so that the load upon any span is carried solely by the girders of the span wnich are support ed upon trucks at the opposite ends thereof.

The number of spans employed will. be d tcrmined by the requirements of the particular installation, but in all cases there will preferably be an odd number of spans with supporting' trucks beneath the joined. ends.

It will be observed that the connected girders, formingthe opposite side supporting members of the turntable, are independently supported. The joints connecting the spans, end to end. permit relative pivotal movement of the spans in a vertical direction so that the turntable can flex to conform to inner and outer tracks at different levels and the side girders of the turntable are also connected so that one side of the turntable may have a relative movement in a vertical direction with respect to the opposite side to enable the turntable to warp to conform to ditlerences in level in adjacent portions of the individual. circle rails. The connection between the longitudinal girders is provided by vertically disposed cross frames 10 extending between the girders at right angles thereto and by a platform 11 which is supported upon the tops of the girders. the platform 11 comprising a flexible cover plate 11 and the track structure mounted thereon. The platform 11 is sufliciently flexible to permit warping of the turntable. and the connecting; members 10. at right angles to the girders, will flex sullicicntlv under torsional stresses to permit the warning; ncccssary to insure engagement of all of the trucks with the supporting rails- The cross members 10.while permitting); relative vertical movements between the parallel. girders. serve to rigidly hold the girders against relative lateral movci'nents in a horizontal plane and the birds between the spans. while )ermitting the turntable to flex in a vertical direction, rigidly. hold the spans against relative movement in a. horizontal direction so that theturntable will not be distorted by the lateral thrust exerted upon an end thereof to turn the table about its pivot. 'lhe turntable is preferably rotated by means of a suitable tractor 12 which is a unit separate from the turntable and coupled to one end thereof, the tractor 12 being); mounted to travel upon a circular trackway beneath the outer end of the turntable.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 6, the supporting trucks 9, which are all of the same construction, have frame provided with side members 13 which have elevated projectinpend portions 14?. which overhang ltlll the axles ofthe front and rear supporting wheels 16, the projecting portions 14' having half bearings 17 upon the undersides thereof to receive the axles. The axles 15 are retained in the bearings 17 by caps 18, which are retained in place by bolts 19 and by rigid lugs 20 projecting from side members 13 and supporting the inner ends of the caps. The axles 15 may be lubricated by means of greasecups 21 mounted upon extensions 14: overhanging the axles. The girders are supported upon the truck frames between the front and rear supporting axles and the trucks are rigidly held at the proper angle with respect to the girders for the axles 16 to travel upon thecircle rails by means of a'rigid brace 22, which is rigidly secured to one of the side members of the truck and attached to the web of a grider by a bolt The side members 13 of the truck frame are connected by a rigid cross girder 24; which is preferably integral with the side members. The top of the cross girder 24 is flush with the upper edges of the depressed portions of the side members 13 of the frame and forms the top of the depressed portion of the truck frame upon which the girders are supported. Upon the top of the depressed portion of the girder frame, there is mounted a transverse dowel 25 which has a convex top surface and upon this dowel there is mounted a saddle 26 which has a concave seat upon the underside thereof which fits upon the convex dowel. The saddle 26 has end flanges 27 which overlie-the opposite side members 18 and which are pivotally held to the side members by pins 28 which are attached to the side members and extend through openings in the V flanges 27. The pins 28 are merely for the. purpose of retaining the saddles upouthe dowels 25 and do not take any of the weight of the girders. The pins 28 are at the axes of the convex surface of the dowel 25 and the openings in the flanges 27, through which the pins extend, are of a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the pins so that (ill the pins have a loose lit in the openings. The

girders rest upon thesaddle 26 and this saddle permits the truck to have a rocking movement about a transverse axis midway between its ends so that in passing over a depression or an elevation in the circle rail, the truck can follow the contour of the tread surface of the rail. I

as best shown in Fig. 80f thedrawing, one of the girders has a projectingend portion which is rigidly secured to the saddle 26. As shown in the drawing,each inner span girder is attached to the saddle and the extension 529 of this girder resting on the saddle has a web 30 and base flanges 31, which are bolted to the saddle. The base flanges 31 have mounted thereon transversely disposed substantially semi-cylindrical sockets 32 which serve assupports for the prr'ijecting to fit in the sockets 32 upon the opposite flanges of the extension 29 of the inner girder. The plates 33 and the web 30 are provided with openings at the axis of the cylindrlcal sockets '32, and a pivot pin 35 extends through these openings. The pm 85 is not intended under normal conditions to take any of the weight of the girders, and has a loose fit in the openings. The downward thrust caused by the weight of the turntable and of any load thereon is taken entirely by the sockets 32. The purpose of the pins v35 is to prevent the outer girder from being lifted out of engagement with the supporting sockets when a heavy loadis imposed upon the extreme outer end of the outer span, such as would.

occur when a locomotive is coming onto the turntable. The heavy weight at the outer end of the turntable might tilt the inner .end of the span upwardly, but the pin 85 prevents the disengagement of the inner ends of thegirders from. the sockets 32, and imposes the weight of the inner span upon the inner end oft-he outer span beinglifted, to restrain the upward movementthereof; The

adjoining ends of the inner and outer spans have cross frame members 10 close to the ad oming ends and these cross frame members have brackets 36 attached thereto, the bracket, on one of the frames supportinga vertically disposed socket member 37, and the bracket of the other frame member carrying a block 38 which has a sllding fit in the socket 37.

The interengaging members .37 and per mit relative vertical movement but form an interlock between thespans, resisting relative movements in horizont-alplane:

The pivotal connections between the gird ers are designed to rigidly hold the girders against relative movements in a horizontal I plane. The socket members 32 and projec; tions 34 fitting therein, have opposed bearmg surfaces extending horizontally at right angles to the girders, and these bearing surfaces form an interlock preventing any *pivotal movements in a horizontal direction, and the plates 33 form jaws upon opposite sides of the web 30,'which resist lateral shear in a horizontal directiomso that the only relative movement permitted between the girders must be in a vertical plane. I

An important feature of the invention is that the construction permits removal of ea ch.

of the supporting trucks without jacking up or lifting the turntable. When the brace '22 is freed from the girder, the truck can be swung to free the wheels 16 from the rail and permit the truck frame to drop down upon the rails. The truct frame is so designed that either end portion 1d will pass between the rail and girders when the truck frame is slid along the rail and by removing an end wheel the truck can be slipped out from under the girders.

The center span of the turntable has a pivotal connection with the central support 4, which serves merely to hold the span against radial movements and to maintain the supporting trucks in alignment with the circle rail. Centrally, of the middle span there is rigidly supported a vertical sleeve 39, which is secured at its upper end to the cover plate 11. and held at its lower end by a series of radially disposed braces elO which connect the lower end of the sleeve to the lower portions of the opposite girders 6 of the span. The sleeve 39 has bearing portions ll and 42 at the upper and lower ends thereof, which have a smaller internal diameter than the intern'iediate portions of the sleeve, the internal diameter of the lower bearing portion 42 being" less than that of the upper bearing portion ll. A pivot shaft has a sliding and rotating .tit within the bearing portions of the sleeve 39 being provided with a shoulder 44 engaging with the lower bearing portion 462 to limit the down ward movement of the shaft. 1.116 lower end 45 of the shaft beneath the sleeve is reduced, and has a sliding and rotating it in a bore extending diametrically through a ball 46, which is seated in a socket member d7, mounted upon the support l. The ball l6 is retained in the socket member 47 by means of a cap 48, and is adapted to turn about any XlS within the socket. The shaft l?) is rigidly held in the sleeve 39 against any movement other than in an axial direction, and serves as a pivot for the turntable to cause the same to turn about the center of the ball 46 an axis, and since the ball -16 capable of turning in its socket about any axis, the center span is free to rock into conformity with any portion of the supporting circle rails. The spool. 39 is rigidly held in position between the cover plate 11 and the radial braces 40, but since these connections are adjacent the tops and bottoms of the {girders only, they do not materially affect the transverse flexibility of the span.

The socket member .117 is adjustably and detachably mounted upon the support l, and is readily removable when the pivot shaft is lifted out of engagement with the bail 4th. The socket in ember 4-17 is provided. with radial has or flang s 4:9 to which are pivotallv connected, clevises 50 into the outer ends or which are screwed short threaded rods 51, which are square intermediate the ends thereof, to en able them to be turned to screw them into or out of engagement with the clevises. The outer ones of the short rods 51 are also screwthreaded. and are screwed into the inner end of a turnbuckle 53, the outer end of which is screwed upon the inner end of a guy rod 54-, which is secured at its outer end to the support uponwhich the circle rail 3 is mounted by an anchor The guy rods 54 extend n 1 rods 54; are )referabl r enclosed in a bed '3 l of concrete 56 which is poured around the rods after they have been properly adjusted to secure the socket l? in central position.

Adjacent the outer circle rail 2, there is an additional rail oi'wvhich is also acircle rail concentric with the rail 2 and mounted upon long ties 58 which extend under the rail 2, the ties 58 being: placed in pairs at intervals beneath the rail L, and projecting inwardly lK IHl the intermediate ties to provide the J the inner rail 57. The rail 57 in cross .i .etion and has rack teeth 60 formed in the web thereof on the outer side. The tractor 12 has a frame 61 which is connected at its forward end by a universal coupling; 62 with aside girder 8 of the outer span of the turntable. Adjacent the rear end of the frame 61, there is a horizontal axle ($8 rotatably mounted in hearings in opposite side members of the frame and on this aXle,-there is fixed a large wheel 64 which travels upon the circle rail 2 and, roiiatably mounted thereon there is a smaller wheel 65 positioned to travel upon the ball of the rack rail. 57. The tractor is supported at its forward end by the coupling (52 and at its rear end by the wheels 64 and 65, thecoupling 62 permitting the tractor to rock in any direction as may be necessary to accommodate the supporting wheels 64 and 65 to inequalities in the level of the two supporting rails. Forwardly of the axle 68, the frame has rigidly attached thereto a bracket 66 in which is journaled a vertical shaft 67 which has fixed to its lower end a pinion 68 which meshes with the rack 60. The bracket 66 also carries vertical shafts 69 which have guiderollers 70 rotatably mounted upon the lower ends thereof and positioned to engage the inner side of the ball 59 of the rack rail 57. The guide rollers 70 serve to maintain the pinion 38 in engagement with the rack. The pinion 68 has a shroud or flange atits upper end which projects beyond the teeth of the pinion and bears against the outer side of the ball 59 of the r ck rail, the shroud 68 cooperating with the rollers Z 0 hold the pinion in ill) '9 which is substantially circular spect to thedriving pinion so that the driv- I ing pinion may be employed with racks of different diameters.

The tractor has a platforn'i Tdniounted upon the frame (31 and theshaft 6?", to which the driving pinion isattached, extends up through the platform 74: and has a bevel gear 7 5 fixed to the upper end thereof. The gear 75 meshes with a gear 7 6 which is driven by a motor 7'? through suitable reduction gearing in a gear case 78 so that when the motor 7? isoperatcd, the tractor 12 will be caused to travel alongthe supporting rails 2 and 5'? to push or pull the end of the turntable around the outer, sup 'iorting trackway.

If any portion of either the outer circle rail 2 or the rack rail 57 should settle below the adjacent portion of the other rail, tie tract-oi. can tilt laterally about its flexible coupling 62 to acconunodate itself to the inequalities in the rails and this tilting movement will not effectthe action of the driving pinion since the rollers 70 and shroud 68, engaging the opposite sides of the circular ball 69 of the rack 'rail can turn with respect to the hall of said rail and the pinion 68 is, held by the shroud. 68 at a sufficient distance from theweb of the rack rail to permit the slight angular movements necessary to permit as great a tilting movement as the tractor'will he required to haves 7 in Figs. 20 to 23 there is shown a slightly modilied form of a tractor which has a substai'ztially rectangular frame 81, which isconnorted at its forwardend by a universal coupling 'with aside girder of a turntable. Adjacent the rear end of the frame 81 there is an axle 83 rotatably mounted in opposite side members of the frame and on this axle there is ed a large wheel Slwhrch travels upon the circle rail 2 and rotatably mounted thereon, there is a smaller wheel 85 which is positioned to travel upon the ball of the rack rail 57,- the tractor being supported, at its forward end, by the coupling and at its rear end by the twowheels as in the modification first described. 7 v i Forwardly ofthe' axle 83;,the frame has a rigid crossmeinber 86 in which is'j'ournaled a vertical shaft 87 which has fixedto its lower end a pinion 8 8,wh1ch meshes with the rack 60. The cross member .86 also carently supported.

ries a vertical shaft 89 which hasrotatably mounted upon the lower end thereof a guide roller 90 which is adapted to engage the inner sideof the ball 59 of the rack rail 57. The guide roller J0 serves to maintain the pinion 88 in engagement with the rack. The pinion 88 is constructed exactly the same way as the pinion 68 in the tractor shaft described, havingashroud 88 which engages the outer side of the rounded ball 59 of the rack rail. The upper portion 91 of the shaft 89 is cylindrical and of larger diameter than the lower portion thereof, on which the roller 90 is mounted. The upper portion 91 of theshaft 89 is rotatably mounted in a vertical bearing sleeve 92 formed in the cross member 86 and is eccentric with respect to the lower portion of the shaft upon which theroller 90 is mounted. To the upper end of the shaft 89,

there is lined an 21111198 which is adapted to be secured in different angularpositions OfitCljUShHlGnh by, means of a bolt 94which can be secured in any one of a circular row of threaded openings 95 formed in the cross member 86. By adjusting the shaft 89; angularly within its bearing sleet e 92, the roller 90 can-be adjusted toward orfroin the pinion 88 to properly hold the pinion inengagement with the rack to which itisapplied.

llavin g thus claim: I v p I l. i. turntablehaving paralleh longitudinal. girders flexibly connected andindepend- 2. A turntable of the multi-span type having itss'pans flexibly connected end to end, each span having parallel longitudinal girders flexibly connected and independently supported. 7

3. The combination with a supporting structure including a circular track, of a turntable having trucks traveling on said track, and a pivot for said turntable comprisa ballcoiinected to the turntable at the center thereof. and a socket for said ball adjustablymounted onsaid supporting structure. r V I I 4-. A turntable of the-multiespan type having its spans flexibly connected end to end,

each span having parallel girders connected by cross members at right angles thereto, and

separate means for supporting each of the girders of each span, at the opposite ends thereof. I I a r .5. The combination with a supporting structure including inner and outer circular tracks concentric with respect to each other,

of a turntable having a central span pivoted centrally and supported at its opposite ends upon the inner of said tracks,'said central span having an upwardly facingtransversely disposed concave socket ateach end there of, outer spans supported at. their-outer ends on the outer track and having bearingsmemdescribedjourinvention we ill) bers at their inner ends fitting in said sockets, and pivot pins connecting said spans, said pins being at the axes of said sockets.

6. A turntable having parallel longitudinal side members each comprising a central girder and outer girders aligned therewith and pivotally connected to the outer ends thereof, cross members connecting said 1011- gitudinal side members, a supporting truck attached to each end of each of the central girders, and a supporting truck attached to each end out each of the outer girders.

7. The combination with a supporting structure including a circular track, of a turntable having trucks upon said track and a pivot for said turntable comprising a spherical socket carried by the supporting structure centrally of the track and a ball seated in said socket and having a connection with the turntable constraining the turntable to turn about a central axis but permitting vertical movement of the turntable with respect to the ball and socket.

8. The combination with a supporting structure including a circular track, of a turntable having trucks travelling on said track and a pivot for said turntable comprising a spherical socket mounted on the supporting structure centrally of said track and a ball seated in said socket and having a sliding pivotal connection with said turntable whereby said turntable is constrained to turn about the center of the ball and socket but is permitted to have vertical movement with respect to the ball and socket.

9. The combination with a supporting structure including concentric circular tracks, of a turntable having parallel side members each formed of aligned girders joined end to endby means permitting vertical flexure but holding the side members rigidly against lateral fiexure, each joint between girders being adjacent a track, each of the side members having a supporting truck at each end and beneath each joint thereof, said trucks traveling on said circular tracks, and cross members connecting said girders.

10.'The combination with a supporting structure including concentric circular tracks, of a turntable having parallel side members,

each comprising aligned girders joined end to end by means permitting vertical fleXure but holding the side members rigidly against lateral fiexure, each joint between girders being adjacent a track, each of the side members having a supporting truck at each end and beneath each joint thereof, said trucks traveling on said circular tracks, each truck having track engaging wheels on opposite sides of the girder to which it is attached and having a connection with the girder which permits it to'rock vertically about a transverse axis between the wheels thereof.

"ii. A turntable comprising parallel longitudinal side members each formed of girders flexibly joined end to end, supporting trucks for each of the side members at the ends thereof and intermediate the ends thereof adjacent the joints between the girders, and means connecting the parallel side members for holding them against horizontal distortion, said connecting means permitting vertical movements of girders on one side independently of the girders on the opposite side.

12. A turntable comprising parallel longitudinal side members each formed of girders flexibly joined end to end, supporting trucks for eachot' the side men'ibers at the ends hereof and intermediate the ends thereof adjacent the joints between the girders, means connecting the parallel side members for holding them against horizontal distortion, said connecting means permitting the girders at opposite sides of the turntable to haveindependent vertical movements, and a flexible platform mounted on said girders.

13. A turntable having parallel longitudinally extending lines of girders of each line joined end to end, the adjoining ends of said girders being provided, one with a part having an i'lpwardly facing substantially sen'ii-cylimlrical socket and the other with a part adapted to it in the socket, said parts forming a pivotal connection permitting one section to rock vertically with respect to the other and preventing bending of the girder in a horizontal. direction, one girder being provided with portions overlying opposite sides of the adjoining girder to resist lateral shear.

14. A turntable having longitudinally ex tending girders joined end to end to rock about a horizontal transverse axis, and a truck beneath each joint arranged transversely with respect to the girders, and having suppbrting wheels on opposite sides or" the girders. each truck being connected to a girder for rocking movement about an axis extending substantially longitudinally of the girdersi 15. The combination with a supj'iorting structure including a circular track and a support centrally disposed with respect to the track, of a turntable provided with trucks travelingon said track, a socket member mounted on said central support, a ball rotate ably mounted in said socket and provided with a radial bore, and a vertical shaft an ried by said turntable and slidably fitting in the bore of said ball. ii

16. The combination with a supporting structure'including a circular track and a support centrally disposed with respect to the track. of a turntable provided with trucks traveling on said track, a socket member mountea. on said central support a ball rotatably mounted in said socket and provided with a radial bore. and a vertical shaft carried by said turntable and slidably fitting in the bore of said ball, said pin being movable vertically in said turntable to a position out'of engagement with the ball and said socket member being removably mounted on the support.

17. In a turntable having longitudinally extending girders joined end to end, a supporting truck beneath the joined ends of two connected girders, one of said girders being supported directly upon the truck and rigidly fastened thereto, the other girder being supported upon said end of the first girder, said girders being free to flex in a vertical plane about an axis the vertical plane of which intersects the transversecenter plane of the truck at substantially the center of the truck.

18. A supporting truck for a turntable having supporting Wheels at opposite ends thereof and a transversely extendingconvex bearing member upon the top thereof substantially midway between the wheels, a saddle having a concave bearing surface adapted to engage said convex member and flanges overhanging the opposite sides of the truclnsaid flanges being pivotally connected to the truck at the axis of said bearing member. 7 c

19. A turntable having girders connected end to end by means permitting the girders to fiex'in a vertical plane, trucks supjiiorting the ends ofthe turntable, intermediate trucks supporting the turntable at thc'join'ts between girders, and a pivot at the center of the turntable, the relative movement of said girders being limited by said connecting means, any of said trucks being removable without jacking up the turntable. v

20. A turntable having girders connected end to end by means permitting the girders to flex in a vertical plane, trucks supporting the" ends of the turntable, intermediate trucks supporting the turntable at the joints between girders, said intermediate trucks having wheels at the opposite ends thereof on opposite sides of the connected girders and a frame overslung on'the axles of the wheels, said intermediate trucks having a connection with the girders permitting the trucks to rock about a transverse axis intermediate the ends thereof.

21. A turntable having longitudinally extending girders arranged end to end, a supporting truck beneath the adjoining ends of two connected girders, one of said girders having its end resting on said truck and having a transversely extending concave seat and the other of said girders having at the end thereof a bearing portion resting in said seat, said seat being directly over the center of the truck.

22. A turntable having longitudinally extending girders arranged end to end, a supporting truck beneath the ad oining ends of two connected girders, one of said girders having a base portion resting on said truck and the other of said girdersj naving its end portion bifurcated to straddlethe web of the 28. A turntable composed of a plurality of I spans arranged end to end, the adjoining endsef said spans having members rigidly connected therewith which are engageable with each other along surfaces" extending longitudinally of the turntable to resist relative movement of said spans in a horizontal direction and members also rigidly connected to the adjoining ends of the spans which are engageabl with each other along surfaces extending transversely of the turntable to resist relative longitudinal move ment, said interengaging' members permitting relative angular movement in a vertical plane. c

24,-. A central pivot fora turntable comprising a spool rigidly secured to the turntable, a shaft fitting in the spool,- a central support anda member on the support having a spherical socket, a member rotatably held in said socket to turn about any axis, said rotatable member having a central bore in which said shaft has a slidable lit, said shaft being free to rotate in said member and'to slide up and .down therein.

251A turntable pivot comprising and projecting "below the same, a fixed'sup port beneath the lower end of the shaft, a

socket 'niember carried by said support, said socket member having a spherical seat, a}

when freed from the shaft.

members being removable from said support a ver-- ,tical shaftslidablv mounted in the turntable 26. Aturntable. pivot com'prisinga ver-- tical shaftcarried by the turntable, afixed supportbeneath the lower end of saidfshaft, a socket member carried by the support, means for securing the socketmembfer, to the supportand adjusting thesame. thereon, a"

bearing member engagingthe socket member and free to turn therein about any axis, said bearing member having a central bore in which'theshaft has a rotating fit. i

27. A turntable pivot comprising avertical shaft carried by the .turntable, a fixed support beneath the lower end of said shaft, a socket member carried by the support, radially disposed adjustable guy rods-connected to said socket member for securing the socket member to the support and adjusting the same thereon, a bearing member engaging the socket member and free to turn therein about any axis, saidbearing member-having a central bore inwhich the shaft has a rotating fit 28. In a turntable having parallel longi-' tudinal girders connected by transversecross members and independently supported, a pivot comprising a centrally supported spool having its upper and lower ends connected to the cross members and girders, a shaft fitting in said spool, a fixed support beneath the spool, and a member carried by the support to which said shaft is rotatably connected, said member being free to turn on any axis.

29. In a turntable having parallel longitudinal side girders connected by transverse cross members and independently supported, a vertical pivot member at the center of the turntable and a series of radially disposed brace members connecting said pivot member with the side girders ior rigidly holding the pivot member in place.

30. The combination with a supporting structure including a circular track, of a turntable pivoted centrally with respect to said tracks, and a tractor mounted to travel on said track and pivotally connected to said turntable to swin about a plurality oi axes with respect thereto.

31. The combination with a supporting structure including a circular track, a turntable pivoted centrally with respect to said track, and a tractor mounted to travel upon said track and flexibly coupled to an end of said turntable to swing vertically or horizontally or to tilt laterally with respect thereto.

32. The combination with a rotatably mounted turntable, of a circular rack concentric with the turntable, a motor driven tractor unit flexibly coupled to the turnable and hav ing a pinion engaging with said rack.

33. The combination with a rotatably mounted turntable, of a circular track rail concentric with the turntable, said rail having a rack on one side thereofla tractor coupled to the turntable and having a supporting wheel running on said rail, a pinion meshing with the rack and a guide wheel engaging the side of the rail opposite that on which the pinion engages.

3d. The combination with a rotatably mounted turntable, of a circular raclr concentric with the turntable, a motordriven tractor unit flexibly coupled to the turntable and having a pinion engaging with said rack, said pinion having a shroud acting as a wheel tread against the side of the rack.

85. The combination with a rotatably mounted turntable, of a circular track rail concentric with the turntable, said rail having a rack on one side thereof, a tractor coupled to the turntable and having a supporting wheel running on said rail, a pinion. meshing with the rack and a guide wheel engaging the side of the rail opposite that on which the pinion engages, said guide wheel being adjustable transversely of the rail.

36. The combination with a rotatably mounted turntable, of a circular track rail over which the opposite ends of the turntable travel, a rail concentric with said track rail, said last mentioned rail having a rack thereon, and a tractor flexibly coupled to the turn table, said tractor having supporting wheels traveling on said rails and a pinion meshing with saidrraclr.

37. The combination with a rotatably mounted turntable, ot a circular track rail over which the opposite ends ofthe turntable travel, ties supporting said rail, certain of said ties projecting beyond the ends of the others, a second rail concentric with the first rail and mounted upon said projecting ties, said second rail having a rack upon one side thereof, and a tractor for shifting the turntable having supporting wheels upon said rails and a pinion meshing with said rack.

38. The combination with a turntable, of a circular rack railbeneath the turntable, a tractor flexibly coup ed atone end to the turntable and having a supporting wheel at its opposite end running on said rack rail, a pinion on the tractor meshing with the rack, and means carried by the tractor and engaging said rack rail to hold the supporting wheel and pinion in engagement with the rack rail.

39. The combination with a turntable having a central pivot and concentric circle rails disposed in the same horizontal plane, said pivot comprising a fixed socket member, a sphere mounted to turn about a horizontal axis in said socket, and a vertical pivot shaft carried by the turntable and rotatably c nnected to said sphere, the center ot said sphere lying substantially in the horizontal plane of said rails.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto atlix our signatures.

nuennn non woonnnrr. vnnnon KINGSBURY norrnnn. 

